Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings poses for a portrait at the NHL YoungStars media availablity during the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend at the Queen Elizbeth Fairmont Hotel on January 22, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.

Drew Doughty didn’t want to appear conspicuous, but he was star struck. He was in the locker room at the All-Star Game, surrounded by NHL icons such as his childhood idol Joe Thornton, along with Mike Modano and Nicklas Lidstrom.

For seemingly the first time in his rookie season, Doughty didn’t know what to do.

“It was weird getting dressed with all the stars in the league and hanging out with them,” Doughty said. “I almost didn’t know how to act around them. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself or anything like that, but it was a great time. I had so much fun.”

Doughty, 19, earned his spot in the NHL YoungStars game during All-Star weekend because of his uncanny poise and production as a stalwart Kings defenseman.

Doughty leads the team in average ice time at 23 minutes, 41 seconds per game.

He doesn’t get stopped in LosAngeles, but he was recognized in Montreal during All-Star week. Doughty said that was only because he was hanging out with rookies Steven Stamkos of Tampa Bay and Toronto’s Luke Schenn.

Announcers, fans and opponents might not say his name correctly (it’s pronounced “Dow-tee “), but it starts with a `D’ – appropriate since he’s been such a capable blue-liner.

“It shows what kind of guy he is. He’s got that quiet confidence, but he’s not cocky. Off the ice and talking to him, yeah, you realize he’s still young. He’s still maturing a little bit, but he’s fun. It’s going to be fun to watch him grow up as a player or person.”

Doughty has all but shed the nickname “Doughnuts,” a moniker he earned when he excelled in junior hockey in Ontario. He doesn’t especially like doughnuts, but it was a play off his last name. He’s not soft, either, although now he answers to “Dewey” or whatever it is people might call him.

“I find it funny,” Doughty said. “It’s no big deal.”

Doughty was a big deal as the second overall selection by the Kings in the 2008 NHL draft, but he wasn’t even sure he’d make the team. He worked hard in the offseason to shed 20 pounds and after a successful camp, he figured he’d play 10 or 15 minutes a game.

He was instrumental to Terry Murray’s system, which emphasized a reduction in shots on goal.

Doughty was paired with veteran defenseman Sean O’Donnell – who at 36 is old enough to be Doughty’s father – and worked his way onto the power-play and penalty-kill units.

“Playing alongside him every night, he just gets the game,” O’Donnell said. “Everybody can see what he can do physically. I don’t think the regular fan can see some of the reads he makes.

“When I’m in trouble, I get the puck, and he’s where he’s supposed to be to give me the easiest way to make an out. I also think Drew should get some of the credit on how well things have gone.”

The Kings (23-21-7) are just three points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They’re young but talented and by no means out of the playoff picture, thanks in part to Doughty’s unexpected performance.

In an October game, Colorado’s Ryan Smyth went around Doughty and scored what was the eventual winning goal at Staples Center. Kings general manager Dean Lombardi still points to that mistake as a triumph of sorts for Doughty, who later in that game scored.

“Smyth went around him, and there’s a young kid who just got burned in front of 15,000 people,” Lombardi said. “The danger of playing young kids is that they then become scared to make another mistake. The way he brushed it off and then in the third period scored the goal, that to me shows that not only is he a competitor, but he didn’t go into a shell.”

Doughty is the brunt of good-natured teasing because of his inexperience.

Greene tries to teach him, as does captain Dustin Brown, who rooms with Doughty on the road.

“What does verbose mean?” Greene asked Doughty after practice.

“Big?” Doughty said with uncertainty.

Doughty forgot verbose means something that’s wordy, but he doesn’t forget the lessons he’s learned in NHL arenas. He’s having such a stellar year he will merit serious consideration for the Calder Trophy, an award given to the league’s top rookie.

“When he gets the puck, the whole game slows down,” said Luc Robitaille, former Kings star player and current team president. “It’s very rare to have a defenseman that when they get the puck, you feel the game is in control. It’s very hard. People ask me, `Who do you compare him to?’ It’s hard to compare him to anyone.

“Rob Blake, when he was a rookie, was a different player. He wasn’t as good with the puck, but he had a bit of an edge. Maybe Lidstrom, because as a young guy he was so calm when he got the puck. It’s really amazing.”

Doughty doesn’t act like he’s anything special. Just a teenager logging more ice time than any other King this season.

“I enjoy playing a lot of minutes here,” he said. “I think I play better when I play more minutes, so it’s great.

“It’s great the coaching staff has faith in me that I’m going to do my job when I’m out there.”

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